r, stepping forward, and trying not to smile. "He is one
of our foremost inventors. It is his type of monoplane that the
government has adopted for the coming maneuvers at Panama, you may
recall, and he was very helpful to Uncle Sam in stopping that swindling
on the border last year--Tom and his big searchlight. Mr. Swift,
General Waller," and Captain Badger bowed as he completed the
introduction.

"What's that. Tom Swift here? Let me meet him!" exclaimed an elderly
officer coming through the crowd. The others parted to make way for
him, as he seemed to be a person of some importance, to judge by his
uniform, and the medals he wore.

"Tom Swift here!" he went on. "I want to shake hands with you, Tom! I
haven't seen you since I negotiated with you for the purchase of those
submarines you invented, and which have done such splendid service for
the government. Tom, I'm glad to see you here today."

The face of General Waller was a study in blank amazement.

CHAPTER VII

THE IMPOSSIBLE OCCURS

There were murmurs throughout the throng about the big gun, as the
officer approached Tom Swift and shook hands with him.

"What have you in mind now, Tom, that you come to Sandy Hook?" the
much-medaled officer asked.

"Nothing much, Admiral," answered our hero.

"Oh, yes, you have!" returned Admiral Woodburn, head of the naval
forces of Uncle Sam. "You've got some idea in your head, or you
wouldn't come to see this test of my friend's gun. Well, if you can
invent anything as good for coast defense, or even interior defense, as
your submarines, it will be in keeping with what you have done in the
past. I congratulate you, General Waller, on having Tom Swift here to
give you the benefit of some of his ideas."

"I--I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Swift before," said the
gun inventor, stiffly. "I did not recognize his name when I
countersigned his pass."

It was plain that the greeting of Tom by Admiral Woodburn had had a
marked effect in changing sentiment toward our hero. Captain Badger
smiled as he noticed with what different eyes the gun inventor now
regarded the lad.

"Well, if Tom Swift gives you any points about your gun, you want to
adopt them," went on the Admiral. "I thought I knew something about
submarines, but Tom taught me some things, too; didn't you, Tom?"

"Oh, it was just a simple matter, Admiral," said Tom, modestly. "Just
that little point about the intake valves and the ballast t